Filling method and device

ABSTRACT

The method and device serve for filling containers ( 11 ) with a liquid product. The product is fed to the container by means of a filling valve and a filling nozzle. The product emerging from the filling nozzle is fed to a directing element ( 9 ). The directing element has a geometrical configuration such that an edge ( 10 ) of the directing element runs along at a small distance from the inside walls of the container.

The invention pertains to a method for filling containers with liquid, which is supplied to the container through a filling valve and a filling nozzle.

The invention also pertains to a device for filling containers with a liquid, the device comprising at least one filling valve and at least one filling nozzle.

Many different filling devices and methods of this type for filling cartons and bottles, for example, are known. An essential goal of implementing a filling method is to fill the container both rapidly and reliably. So that a container an be filled rapidly, it is helpful to avoid or to reduce as much as possible the formation of foam during the filling operation.

A problem with the filling of containers with a non-circular cross-sectional shape results from the fact that the distance between the filling nozzle, which is centrally located in most cases, and the inside walls differs, depending on the solid angle in question, and this promotes the formation of foam.

The goal of the present invention is to improve a method of the type indicated above in such a way that containers with non-circular cross sections can be filled more effectively.

This goal is achieved according to the invention in that the liquid emerging from the filling nozzle is sent to a guide element, which is provided with a geometric shape such that the edge of the guide element positioned inside the container is arranged so that it extends along and a short distance away from the container wall.

An additional goal of the present invention is to design a device of the type indicated above in such a way that containers with a non-circular cross section can be filled more effectively.

This goal is achieved according to the invention in that, downstream of the filling nozzle, a guide element is arranged, which comprises a design such that the edge of the guide element positioned inside the container is arranged so that it extends along and a short distance away from an inside wall of the container to be filled.

The inventive method and the inventive device are especially suitable for filling beverage cartons. During the filling process, these types of beverage cartons are opened at their vertically upward-facing end and are sealed only after the completion of the filling operation. It is therefore easy to introduce the inventive guide element into the upper end of the interior of the container.

By designing the geometry of the guide element so that the entire edge of the guide element extends along and a short distance away from the inside walls of the container, the liquid flowing along the guide element is directed against the inside walls of the container and can then flow uniformly down these walls. The design of the guide element, furthermore, ensures the uniform distribution of the liquid, so that that equal volume flow rates are supplied to essentially all areas of the inside periphery of the container. As a result, the container can be filled more rapidly and more uniformly without the formation of significant amounts of foam.

The uniform distribution of the liquid over the entire area of the inside surface of the container leads to a significant reduction in the flow rate of the liquid. Because the liquid slides down uniformly along the inside walls of the container, the speed at which the liquid hits the bottom of the container and, as the filling operation proceeds, the speed at which it hits the surface of the liquid already in the container, is reduced, as a result of which the formation of foam is again decreased.

The inventive guide element can be used in stationary filling machines operating in cycles and also in filling machines with rotating filling wheels.

The use of the guide element as a diffuser promotes the uniform feed of the liquid to the interior of the container.

That the liquid is guided by the guide element toward the wall of the container at an angle to the horizontal helps the liquid to run smoothly down the inside wall.

Selecting the distance in such a way that the liquid flowing over the edge of the guide element reaches the inside surface of the side walls of the container promotes the continuous transfer of the liquid from the guide element to the inside surface of the walls of the container.

A distance of no more than 15 mm is selected as an effective value.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container is filled with liquid under aseptic conditions.

A typical filling operation of non-circular containers involves the filling of a container made of paperboard material.

An additional way to ensure a uniform filling operation is to use deflector surfaces on the guides to keep the liquid away from the edges of the container, as a result of which the air displaced from the interior of the container can escape upwards along the container edges.

It is especially effective for the air deflector elements to be positioned in the area of the corners of the guide element.

It is also possible to ensure rapid venting during the filling operation by the use of a hollow-bore valve shaft. In particular, it is effective for the interior of the package to be flushed with inert gas, for example, nitrogen, through this valve shaft before the filling operation in order to decrease the amount of oxygen in the headspace.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a partially cut-away schematic diagram of a filling device with the associated part of the container to be filled;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the guide element with additional air deflector elements;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the flow of liquid over the guide element to the inside surface of the container; and

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a filling device 1. The filling device 1 comprises a connecting line 2 for connecting the device to a supply tank (not shown) holding the liquid with which the container is to be filled. Typically, the connecting line 2 is connected by way of an elbow 3 to a valve seat 4, which is provided to receive a filling valve (not shown). The valve seat 4 is connected to a nozzle 6 by a valve elbow 5. A shaft 7, which is usually hollow and thus allows gas exchange to occur in the interior of the package before and during the filling operation, extends longitudinally through the nozzle 6.

A guide element 9 is arranged underneath the filling nozzle 6 with respect to the flow direction 8. This guide element comprises an edge 10. The geometric shape of the guide element 9 and in particular the course of the edge 10 are adapted to the cross section of the container 11 to be filled, only part of which is shown in FIG. 1.

Proceeding from the central area 12 of the guide element 9 facing the filling nozzle 6, the guide element 9 extends toward the edge 10 with a gradient to the vertical and, in the area of the edge 10, it remains a certain distance 13 away from the inside surface 14 of the side walls of the container 11.

The filling nozzle 6 and the guide element 9 are covered by a hood 15, so that the container can be filled with the liquid under aseptic conditions.

To make it possible for air to escape from the interior space 17 of the container 2 to be filled as the level of the liquid rises, the guide element 9 comprises one or more air discharge elements 18. The air discharge elements 18 are preferably arranged at the corners 19 of the guide element 9. In the area where they face the central area 12, the air discharge elements 18 are provided with deflector surfaces 20.

The air discharge elements 18 can be designed as profiles open toward the inside surface 14 of the container 12. It is also possible to use hollow profiles open in the vertical direction. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the guide element 9 and of the filling nozzle 6 arranged above the guide element 9. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the guide element 9 is designed for the filling of containers 11 with an essentially square cross section. The guide element 9 comprises a surface profile 21, which promotes the uniform feed of liquid to the inside surfaces 14 of the container 11. In the area of each corner 19 of the guide element 9, an air discharge element 18 is arranged in such a way that it rises like a post above the edge 10.

FIG. 3 shows how a filling operation is carried out. The liquid 22 emerges from the filling nozzle 6 and strikes the guide element 9. As a result of the guide element 9, the liquid 22 is guided uniformly toward the inside surfaces 14 of the container 11 and can then run uniformly down these inside surfaces 14. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the filling operation according to FIG. 3. Here, too, the extremely uniform flow of the liquid 22 down the inside surfaces 14 can be seen. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A method for filling containers with liquid, which is supplied to the container through a filling valve and a filling nozzle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a guide element having a geometric shape so that an edge of the guide element positioned inside the container extends along and a certain distance away from walls of the container; and sending liquid emerging from the filling nozzle to the guide element.
 20. The method according to claim 19, including using the guide element as a diffuser.
 21. The method according to claim 19, including guiding the liquid by the guide element at an angle to horizontal against the wall of the container.
 22. The method according to claim 19, including selecting the distance so that liquid flowing over the edge of the guide element reaches an area of an inside surface of the side wall of the container.
 23. The method according to claim 22, including selecting the distance to be no more than 15 mm.
 24. The method according to claim 19, including filling the container with liquid under aseptic conditions.
 25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the container is made of paperboard material.
 26. The method according to claim 19, including carrying away air which has been displaced from an interior of the container by the filling operation along air discharge elements.
 27. The method according to claim 26, including positioning the air discharge elements in the area of corners of the guide element.
 28. A device for filling containers with liquid, the device comprising: at least one filling valve: at least one filling nozzle; and a guide element arranged downstream, with respect to a flow direction, of the filling nozzle, the guide element being configured so that an edge of the element is positioned inside the container and is arrangeable along and a certain distance away from an inside surface of a side wall of the container to be filled.
 29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the guide element is a diffuser.
 30. The device according to claim 28, wherein at least certain portions of the guide element proceeding from a central area toward the edge extend at an angle to horizontal.
 31. The device according to claim 28, wherein the distance of the edge of the element from the inside surface of the side wall of the container is sufficient to transfer the liquid from the guide element to the inside surface of the container.
 32. The device according to claim 31, wherein the distance is no more than 15 mm.
 33. The device according to claim 28, wherein the device is constructed so as to fill containers under aseptic conditions.
 34. The device according to claim 28, wherein the device is constructed so as to fill containers made of paperboard material.
 35. The device according to claim 28, wherein the guide element comprises at least one air discharge element.
 36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the air discharge element is arranged in an area of a corner of the guide element. 